Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Receives $5.1 Million Grant

The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock will receive a $5,124,468 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will be used to rehabilitate the taxiway and runway lighting systems and reimburse the airport for land previously purchased for development.

“This grant will tremendously enhance our top two priories at Clinton National,” said Ron Mathieu, executive director of the airport. “Certainly safety is our utmost focus with funds to be used for airfield improvements, including enhancing our lighting system to better assist pilots during times of low visibility. In addition, a portion of funds will further airport expansion efforts to benefit our customers and ultimately the community as we continue serving as one of the state’s largest economic engines.”

U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D) and John Boozman (R ) and Congressman Tim Griffin (R ) made the announcement in a joint release.

“We’ve made incredible progress at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport over the years—from infrastructure upgrades to new vendors to an increased workforce,” Pryor said. “We need to keep the momentum going. Today’s grant is a significant investment that will help us spur job creation and economic development here at home for years to come.”

“At the recent renaming ceremony, we got a glimpse of the major improvements that have been made to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport as well as an update on its master plan for future upgrades. This grant will help airport management achieve its vision for the future, which will bring more travelers, improve commerce and ultimately lead to more jobs for the entire region,” Boozman said.

“Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is a critical engine for economic growth in our state. Upgrading its taxiways and runway lighting systems – as well as its overall expansion – will not only ensure public safety, it will help increase commerce and private sector job creation,” said Griffin.